Question

7. What causes greenhouse gasses to absorb heat when gasses like oxygen do not?

Answer 1

This is due to the Greenhouse Effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and some is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth.As the heat makes its way through the atmosphere and back out to space, greenhouse gases absorb much of it.

Why do greenhouse gases absorb heat?

Greenhouse gases are more complex than other gas molecules in the atmosphere, with a structure that can absorb heat. They radiate the heat back to the Earth's surface, to another greenhouse gas molecule, or out to space. Here are several different types of greenhouse gases. The major ones are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gas molecules all are made of three or more atoms compared to oxygen which only has 2 atoms. I hope this helps you. Have a good rest of your day!

Answer 2

Hope the below helps!

Step-by-step explanation:

Greenhouse gases (such as methane, carbon dioxide etc) have lots of vibrating particles. These molecules eventually release radiation, which travels up Earth's atmosphere (because warm air rises), is trapped and adds to the greenhouse gas effect.

Oxygen and nitrogen don't interfere with infrared waves in the atmosphere. That's because molecules are picky about the range of wavelengths that they interact with.

I have attached a diagram that shows the greenhouse effect. It might help to visualise this.